Method and apparatus for padding and cushioning an equine saddle

ABSTRACT

A method and apparatus is disclosed for padding and cushioning an equine saddle for use between the saddle and the equine&#39;s back. The apparatus consists of a pad that includes an inner layer resistant to moisture and an outer layer for contacting the equine&#39;s back and the underside of the saddle. The pad includes a pocket for receiving an inflatable/deflatable cushion that enhances the animal&#39;s comfort.

TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates generally to the field of saddles for equines,such as horses, and more specifically to a method and apparatus forcushioning a horse saddle.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Horses are generally ridden with saddles, which are essentially aleather seat for the rider built around a rigid support and secured tothe animal's back by a girth or a strap. The rigid support or tree isoften times constructed of wood, metal or similarly rigid materialmaking most saddles generally inflexible. After prolonged use, a saddleplaced directly on the horse's back will tend to rub and chafe thehorse, creating discomfort and potential injury to the animal. Inaddition, due to exercise and the lack of air contacting the horse'sback under the saddle, the horse will sweat profusely. The horse'ssweat, together with normal dirt and grime, will tend to degrade anddeteriorate the saddle as well as possibly injure the horse.

It has long been known to place a pad between the horse's back and thesaddle to provide cushioning and comfort for the horse and protect thesaddle from sweat and grime. Originally, the pad was nothing more than ablanket and to this day, saddle blankets are commonly used by manyriders. Disadvantages of blankets are that they provide littlecushioning to the horse and will tend to compress, absorb moisture andprovide little or no protection to the saddle.

Prior approaches to solving the problem of providing a saddle pad tocushion the saddle have generally taken the direction of providing anair-filled bladder or cushion between the saddle and the animal's back.One approach shown in U.S. Pat. No. 770,975 describes a saddleincorporating an air cushion that replaces a conventional saddle pad.Alternative approaches incorporate an air cushion into the saddledirectly providing an air-filled pad, and are shown in U.S. Pat. Nos.753,751 and 532,419. Pads constructed in accordance with these patentsall have the disadvantage of placing a rubber material between thehorse's back and saddle, which, while it prevents perspiration fromcontacting the saddle through the rubber bladder, no provision is madefor drawing away the perspiration or sweat produced by the horse duringthe riding exercise.

Therefore, a need has arisen for a method and apparatus for padding andcushioning an equine saddle that overcomes the disadvantages of theprior art, provides greater comfort and cushioning to the horse,provides more air flow under the saddle, and draws moisture andperspiration away from the horse and saddle.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

An apparatus is disclosed for cushioning an equine saddle for usebetween the saddle and the equine's back. The apparatus consists of apad that includes an inner layer resistant to the absorption ofmoisture, an outer layer having a soft, deep pile for contacting anunderside of the saddle and for contacting the equine's back, and a foaminner core sandwiched between the first and second outer layers.

A second apparatus is disclosed for cushioning an equine saddle for usebetween the saddle and the equine's back. The apparatus consists of apad that includes upper and lower sections, both sections having aninner layer resistant to the absorption of moisture and an outer layerhaving a soft, deep pile for contacting an underside of the saddle andfor contacting the equine's back, and a foam core sandwiched between theinner and outer layers. The upper and lower sections are folded to forma pocket for receiving a cushion.

A third apparatus is disclosed for use with a saddle pad. The apparatusincludes a foam inner core having a cell structure that absorbs air fromthe atmosphere, an outer flexible shell impervious to moisture defininga cavity for surrounding the foam inner core and sealing the foam innercore from the atmosphere, an opening in the flexible shell fortransmitting air between the atmosphere and the cavity, and a valve inthe opening for controlling air flowing in and out of the cavity.

A method is disclosed for cushioning an equine saddle. The methodincludes contacting an equine's back and an underside of the equinesaddle with a pad having an outer layer constructed of a soft, deeppile; forming an inner layer resistant to the absorption of moisture,and sandwiching a foam inner core between the inner and outer layers.

A second method is disclosed for cushioning an equine saddle. The secondmethod includes forming upper and lower sections, each section having aninner layer resistant to the absorption of moisture,and an outer layerhaving a soft, deep pile for contacting an underside of the saddle andfor contacting the equine's back and attaching the upper section to thelower section to form a pocket for receiving a cushion.

A third method is disclosed for cushioning an equine saddle. The thirdmethod includes forming an outer flexible shell impervious to moistureto define a cavity and sealing the cavity from the atmosphere,constructing an opening in the shell for air to pass in and out of thecavity, filling the cavity with a foam inner core having a cellstructure that absorbs air from the atmosphere, and controlling the flowof air in and out of the cavity.

A technical advantage of the present invention is that a saddle pad isprovided that allows more air to flow under the saddle and drawsmoisture and perspiration away from the horse and saddle. Anothertechnical advantage of the present invention is that a cushion isprovided for use with the saddle pad of the present invention thatprovides greater comfort and cushioning to the horse.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

For a more complete understanding of the present invention, the objectsand advantages thereof, reference is now made to the followingdescriptions taken in connection with the accompanying drawings inwhich:

FIG. 1 illustrates a saddle pad and inflatable/deflatable cushion of theinvention in use on the back of equine.

FIG. 2 is a cross section of the material used to construct the saddlepad illustrated in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 illustrates a saddle pad of the invention showing a pocket toreceive a cushion of the invention.

FIG. 4 is a top view of an inflated cushion for use in practicing theinvention.

FIG. 5 is a top view of a deflated cushion for use in practicing theinvention.

FIG. 6 is a cross-section of the cushion illustrated in FIGS. 4 and 5.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The preferred embodiment of the present invention and its advantages arebest understood by referring to FIGS. 1 through 6 of the drawings, likenumerals being used for like and corresponding parts of the variousdrawings.

Referring to FIGS. 1 and 3, the invention is shown generally at 10positioned on the back of an equine or horse 12. In the preferredembodiment, pad 14 has an outer layer 16, an upper section 18, a lowersection 22 and flaps 20. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 3, pad 14 is contouredto conform to the contour or profile of an English saddle. In otherembodiments, pad 14 can be contoured to fit the profile of differenttypes of saddles such as dressage, eventing and western. Upper section18 together with lower section 22 form a pocket 24 (FIG. 3) forreceiving inflatable/deflatable cushion 26. In FIG. 1,inflatable/deflatable cushion 26 is contained within pocket 24 and isobscured from view. As we explain in more detail later,inflatable/deflatable cushion 26 includes valve 28 for controllingairflow in and out of cushion 26.

Pad 14, while shown in the preferred embodiment with pocket 24 forreceiving cushion 26, can also be constructed in an alternativeembodiment without pocket 24. In the preferred embodiment, pad 14 isconstructed of a tri-laminate material shown in FIG. 2. Outer layer 16is formed of a soft, deep pile material which when compressed with theweight of the saddle will still provide airflow between the saddle andthe pad 14. Some examples of suitable materials are lambs wool,acrylics, polyesters or a blend. Other suitable materials may be used solong as the material provides a soft, deep pile.

In the preferred embodiment, outer layer 16 is constructed of 100%polyester fibers with a polypropylene backing 32. The height of theindividual piles 30 are approximately 9/32of an inch to a full inch. Thematerial weight is approximately thirty-four (34) ounces per linearyard. As shown in FIG. 2, the individual -piles 30 are attached tobacking 32 to form outer layer 16. Inner layer 34 can be constructed ofany material that provides water resistance or a moisture barrier. Inthe preferred embodiment, inner layer 34 is a nylon material with awater/moisture resistant polyurethane coating 36. Sandwiched betweeninner layer 34 and outer layer 16 is an approximately 1/4" foam core 38constructed of an open cell foam such as a low density urethane foammaterial.

Outer layer 16, foam core 38 and inner layer 34 are laminated togetherusing any conventional method such as gluing or heating. In thepreferred embodiment, the lamination process is achieved using an openflame lamination, performed by melting foam core 38 and bonding it tobacking 32 and inner layer 34. This tri-laminate material providessignificant moisture resistance to protect the saddle while allowing airto flow beneath the saddle and moisture to flow away from the saddleboth protecting the saddle and keeping the horse cool. As shown in FIG.2, the moisture resistant liner 36 prevents the sweat of the horse fromcoming through to the saddle, thus protecting the saddle from wetnessand helping and preserving the saddle for longer life. The piles 30 ofouter layer 16 allow air to circulate through the material, thus drawingheat away from the horse.

Now referring to FIGS. 4 and 5, an apparatus for use with the saddle padof FIGS. 1 and 3 is shown generally at 26. The apparatus comprises aninflatable/deflatable cushion 26 having outer shell 52 constructed ofany suitable material that is gas and water impermeable. In thepreferred embodiment, shell 52 is vinyl-coated nylon. Referring to FIG.6, showing a cross-section of FIGS. 4 and 5, vinyl-coated nylon shell 52creates a cavity 54 in which foam core material 56 is placed. In thepreferred embodiment, shell 52 is formed from a single piece of vinylcoated nylon that is RF welded to create a pad with a single opening 58.Also -in the preferred embodiment, foam core 56 is constructed of apoly-ether based polyurethane foam such as XL45, XL65 or XL90 suppliedby Foamtech Corporation of Fitchburg, Mass. Inserted into opening 58 istube 60 having valve 28 for controlling airflow in and out of opening 58into cavity 54. Alternatively, tube 60 can be attached at an opening(not shown)in the center 50 of cushion 26. Tube 60 is attached at suchan opening with, by example, an elbow type connector (not shown). Inoperation, the foam core 56 has a cell structure 62, consisting ofindividual cells 64, that expand in the presence of normal atmosphericpressure. When valve 28 is opened, air will flow into cavity 54 fillingcells 64 and expanding cushion 26. In the preferred embodiment, valve 28is twist valve with a locking mechanism such as 320-TET fromHelkey-Roberts Corporation of St. Petersburg, Fla. Other suitable valvesmay be substituted.

In operation, cushion 26 is inserted into pocket 24 of pad 14 and placedon the back of horse 12. Valve 28 is placed in the open position. Thesaddle (not shown) is then placed atop saddle pad 14 with cushion 26inserted in pocket 24. The weight of the saddle together with thetightening of the girth (not shown) and/or the weight of the rider,forces air to flow from the cells 64 of foam material 56 through valve28 of cushion 26. This causes cushion 26 and pad 14 to conform both tothe shape of the horse's back and the saddle itself. Once cushion 26 andpad 14 have reached the proper shape, valve 28 is locked in the closedposition and no further air may escape from foam material 56 nor may airenter foam material 56. Thus, in operation according to the method andapparatus of the present invention, pad 16 and cushion 26 form atherapeutic pad and cushion apparatus which is custom molded to the backof the horse and the saddle.

While the invention has been particularly shown and described by theforegoing detailed description, it will be understood by those skilledin the art that various other changes in form and detail may be madewithout departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

What is claimed is:
 1. An apparatus for padding and cushioning an equinesaddle for use between the saddle and the equine's back, the apparatuscomprising:(a) a cushion having a foam inner core with a cell structurethat absorbs air from the atmosphere, a gas impermeable outer flexibleshell impervious to moisture defining a cavity for surrounding the foaminner core and sealing the foam inner core from the atmosphere, anopening in the flexible shell for transmitting air between theatmosphere and the cavity, a valve in the opening for controlling airflowing in and out of the cavity; and (b) a pad having lower and uppersections, both sections having an inner layer resistant to theabsorption of moisture, an outer layer having a soft, deep pile forcontacting an underside of the saddle and for contacting the equine'sback, and a foam inner core sandwiched between the inner and outerlayers, a pocket formed by the upper and lower sections for receivingthe cushion.
 2. An apparatus in accordance with claim 1, furthercomprising a contoured shape conforming to a contour of the saddle. 3.An apparatus in accordance with claim 1, wherein the inner layer isconstructed of polyurethane coated nylon.
 4. An apparatus in accordancewith claim 1, wherein the outer layer is constructed of polyesterfibers.
 5. An apparatus in accordance with claim 1, wherein the flexibleshell is constructed of vinyl-coated nylon.
 6. An apparatus inaccordance with claim 1, wherein the foam inner core is constructed ofpoly-ether based polyurethane.
 7. A method for padding and cushioning anequine saddle on an equine's back, the method comprising:(a) placingupon the back of an equine a pad having lower and upper sections, bothsections having an inner layer resistant to the absorption of moisture,an outer layer having a soft, deep pile for contacting an underside ofthe saddle and for contacting the equine's back, and a foam inner coresandwiched between the inner and outer layers, a pocket formed by theupper and lower sections; (b) inserting a cushion into the pocket of thepad, the cushion having a foam inner core with a cell structure thatabsorbs air from the atmosphere, a gas impermeable outer flexible shellimpervious to moisture defining a cavity for surrounding the foam innercore and sealing the foam inner core from the atmosphere, an opening inthe flexible shell for transmitting air between the atmosphere and thecavity, a valve in the opening for controlling air flowing in and out ofthe cavity; (c) placing the saddle upon the cushion filled padpositioned on the equines back; (d) opening the valve to allow air toescape from the foam inner core of the cushion so that the pad andcushion conform to the saddle and the equine's back; and (e) closing thevalve to prevent any more air to escape from the foam inner core of thecushion.
 8. A method in accordance with claim 7 further comprisingconstructing the inner layer resistant to the absorption of moisturefrom polyurethane coated nylon.
 9. A method in accordance with claim 7further comprising constructing the outer layer having a soft, deep pileof polyester fibers.
 10. A method in accordance with claim 7 furthercomprising constructing the gas impermeable outer flexible shell ofvinyl-coated nylon.
 11. A method in accordance with claim 7 furthercomprising constructing the foam inner core of the pad and the cushionpoly-ether based polyurethane.